Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviews preparations for COVID-19 vaccine dry run

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday reviewed the preparations for the dry run of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, scheduled for January 2.

During the meeting with the Delhi government via video conferencing, he said that each member of the medical teams, both at the national and state levels, will be trained similar to the way officials are trained for elections. 

“The lists of health workers have been created and will be uploaded on COVID platform. Just like we prepare during elections, the same way we need to train each member of all medical teams responsibly,” ANI quoted Vardhan as saying. 

He said that over 2,000 “master trainers” have been trained at the national level, and that training is underway in over 700 districts across states. 

“Target of this exercise is that the minutest details are thoroughly researched. At least two vaccines have sent their applications to the Drug Controller and experts for approval, their data are being studied proactively,” Vardhan said. 

A number of states across the country, including Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, among others, are conducting a dry-run on January 2 ahead of a mass-inoculation drive. 

In Delhi, the dry run will be conducted in Daryaganj, GTB Hospital and another private hospital, Vardhan confirmed during the meeting.